In Search Of...

Hey people....

 

I know that not many people read my blog...but I have decided to relocate...

 

 

that's the addy...for those that care. lol. I'm sure I'll continue to update this space, but all future blogs will appear there. So drop by. =)

Yep. I had the test this week that will determine whether I will be returning to uni for another semester or not. Can't say I'm extremely confident that I will get the marks to pass (especially seeing as I pretty much needed a full score. ) but never the less, feel as though I did quite well. Now I've got another exam this coming Monday that will determine whether I fail this one too. lol. Fingers crossed for that one. *just breathe*

 

I hadn't told my parents about the situation though...and this week I finally did...

 

Mum's response...intially angry, then disappointed then accepting. lol. She has the 'old school' asian parent mindset (because my grandparents are like that), but she realises that it's different. She is always going on about me working next year and the usual who-hah, but she also understands and allows me to do what I want. I said, I might want to continue in AIESEC, I might have to remain in uni. First response, 'you'll be working right?' lol. And then she said 'you're only young once'. lol.

 

Dad's response...this was priceless. lol. I told him and his first response was, 'meh, I was in uni for five years, and I took the same subject each year cause I kept failing.' lol. 'It means you get to stay in AIESEC right? Then maybe it's good!' lol. Ah, trust dad to be able to lighten the load off my shoulders. Apparently, his father was much the same way. He then proceeded to tell me an amusing anecdote about my grandfather (from my dad's side, whom I never met), and pretty much said he was oblivious about how well dad did in uni. He was just happy that he was in uni. lol.

 

I know my grandparents won't be as understanding, but just getting the nod from my parents is a relief. It's not like I want to fail mind you. But knowing that even if I do, my parents are behind me is great! I love my family support. lol

 

Hearing dad speak about his father is always great because it's always something funny or interesting or amazing even. I wish that I could have met him before he passed...I was born about a year after...at the time people were saying that I was him reincarnated, because I had the same demenour as him. The subtlties. lol. Who knows, maybe there is a part of him in me.

 

RANDOM CONCLUDING POINTS:

Things I'm looking forward to in the future:

This year to date has been a little bumpy to say the least...so many things have happened, I don't think I've ever been through this many things in ONE year before. Hmmm...there are a few things on my mind...

 

First of all, pictures from SPM (September Presidents Meeting) are up. Photo's contributed  by Heidi (via Bri), Sheryl, Brigette and Mel Mel. Thanks ladies. If I get my hands on anymore I'll post them as well. It was certainly a draining conference but it was great to see everyone again. Everyone already knows that what I love the most about AIESEC is the people (asides from the amazing opportunities that it offers). So even though, overall it was very tiring, it was fantastic.

 

The trip to Sydney itself was good too. A good break during the stressful times of uni. Hanging out in the wonderful 'visiting' city of Sydney with great company. Tried to make the most of it too. Even went down to Bondi beach and had a bit of dip. It was awesome! I love the beach and hadn't swimed in ocean since...well, it's just been that long...lol. Other highlights include the usual Fish Markets, Opera Bar, shopping, etc.

 

What's got me really down lately is my uni results thus far...amongst other things...

 

I am extremely close to failing one subject and am struggling with another. Which sucks majorly because given that it's my final year of uni, if I do fail, I have to come back for one more semester for potentially, just one subject. That's just bad. But the fact that it's so likely is what's getting me down. I've never failed a subject before, nor have I been in such a situation before...it's kind of scary...

 

Everything I want to do, also depends on how I do in uni as well...They include:

- The one year Japanese teaching program, can't do it unless I get my degree.

- Apply for the MC...I could still do it, but don't want to apply if I have to come back for one more semester.

 

Given that, if I actually do fail, I'll have to re-think what I'm going to do...whilst going to uni for another semester...I'll definitely need to get a 'proper' part-time job. As good as it is working with dad at his restaurant, I don't make anywhere enough money, and because my mum and my sister will be headed back to Japan, I'll need to be able to support myself...I could live with dad, I suppose. Though it'd be great to be making enough to be living on my own...

 

I still also want to get into film making. I might look into doing a specialised course on it...at the moment I'm saving to by myself a video camera. Got about a grand in the bank...not quite enough...but getting there...

 

That's the major thing that's weighing on my mind at the moment...by no means the only thing. I don't know whether I should post this or not, but a certain relationship did not develop as I had hoped it would. I'm extremely disappointed about it, but I am suprised how well I'm taking it. Or maybe uni is distracting me so much that I'm not hurting as I should. Maybe it will all come out after exams...who knows. lol. I just gotta get over this and move on...we're still friends so it's all good in my view.

 

I guess to end on a random note...the world is also starting to concern me...

- The ridiculous heat we're experiencing at the moment in Melbourne. The hottest October day since 1914? Damn. 36 degrees...it was so unexpected as well. Dread what our actual summer days will be like. Consistent days of 30+ weather? It's not going to be good for anyone. I guess a whole lot of beach bumming is in order...but then again, I may also miss the summer, depending on when I decide to go to Japan. I'm going back regardless, just for a visit (haven't done that since 2002).

- North Korean's nuclear testing. I mean WTF? That country doesn't seem to listen to reason, and that's what frightens me the most. We don't know what they are capable or and it scares me. Especially because of their proximity to Japan. But more of the long reaching effect of a nuclear blast...I shudder to think...

- This isn't major news, but a light plane that was flown by a baseball player in the States, crashed into a 50-storey high raise appartment building in Manhattan, New York today...I know that's not major...but it was eerie-ly reminicent of September 11...

 

phew...that actually felt pretty good letting all that out...probably didn't make much sense, but it's there...I should get some sleep...but it's already so hot...

 

signing off...

Hmmm...it's getting to the crunch and I haven't been having the best time over the past few weeks...Regardless, since the last time I blogged I've seen three new movies. Thought I might get that out of the way before blogging about anything else...

 

I must say before I start that I am a massive Will Ferrell fan. I'd been watching him since he was on Saturday Night Live and he has never failed to make me laugh (...okay that's a exaggeration, some of his movies suck, but that's besides the point). Anchorman, for example, is one of my favourite movies, absolutely hilarious, so needless to say, with the same team behind this one, I was very much looking forward to this movie...In that regard it let me down...Sure, it was funny, but not as funny as it could or should have been. Not enough laugh-out-loud moments as opposed to several chuckle moments. There are only a few memorable moments, where as there were so many in Anchorman. There is also a lot of cliched moments and so you don't really see anything new.

 

Some of the characters are not explored enough, but the majority of them are well cast and do a great job with the material that they have. First of all, Will Ferrell is Will Ferrell. You don't really see anything new from him. Whether you like his style (kinda like Jim Carrey before he went all drama), will determine whether you enjoy his performance. John C. Reilly is impressive, usually more accustomed to 'oscar-type' movie roles, plays the comic character brilliantly. Sasha Baron Cohen (better known as Ali G or Borat), plays the role of a gay-french-racer well, without overplaying it. It's all the more suprising then, that this movie wasn't better...

 

Intially hesitant to watch this, because of the mixed reviews it was getting, in the end I had to watch it. It's a blockbuster, how can I not? Actually majority of the things I was hearing was that this movie sucked and I couldn't disagree more. I think it did the original proud. This one wasn't as funny as the first, simply because it was a little more serious and didn't need all the character introductions from the first one. So, as 1 friend put it, the jokes are a little 'lamer'. The plot, more than makes up for it though. It succeeds where a lot of sequels fail. What I mean by that is, it capitalises on the fact that it can get straight into the plot without explaining a lot of things. In particular the characters, but that can be a problem, if you haven't seen the first one.

 

Jack Sparrow is back, and he is more of a pirate in this one. Johnny Depp is just brilliant. That man could do anything. There seemed to have scaled back on his involvement though. There were at least equal screen time from all three lead actors (Depp, Knightely, Bloom), which I though was a little 'meh', because we all came to see Johnny in action. Most of the original cast is retained which I think is very important for a trilogy film. With some suprise returns as well. The best part of the movie is that it knows it's a set-up film for the third and final (?) installment and does it brilliantly. It leaves you wanting to see the next one...I can't wait...

 

I loved this movie. It was so funny and it was made in a very interesting way. They don't make smoking glamarous or anything, don't get the that confused from the title, in fact it's not even about smoking. lol. It's almost a mockumentary-style movie about a smooth talking lobbist who just happens to work for a tabbaco company. The character can spin shit, like no body else. The funny thing is that he gets together with his best friends whom are lobbists for the alcohol and firearms companies, respectively. It's also about doing the moral thing over the ethical thing and how you tell your son what you do. It's just a well made movie.

 

It's got a brilliant cast, whom all play there parts to the T. Either they are great actors or they were perfectly cast, there is literally no-one in the film that seems out of place, which is rare. I suppose it would have been more suprising if they were shit. The movie is based off a novel from my limited knowledge and now I'm interested in actually reading the book, to see how well this movie was actually made. The movie wasn't too long, so it never got boring, it was great way to kill time on a friday arvo. That didn't sound too good for the movie, but I highly recommend this movie to anyone.

 

Hey-oo! Two movies in a week, haven't done that in ages...it's great!

 

Here we go again with another M. Night Shyamalan flick. His films are notoriously hit-and-miss with audiences, because you'll either totally get it and love it or think it's totally rubbish. Either way, you could always expect some kind of twist or some big reveal, that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and that's what makes his films great to watch. Lady in the Water is in a catergory onto it's own...It's not exactly a horror movie, though there are elements of it. I think the poster has it right by calling it '...a fairytale come to life'! It's a magical story and it's so wonderfully woven together that once it gets into it, you just get lost in the story and enjoy it. I found it quite emotional as well, but I'm a big softie. =P It does kind of feel dry to start with...but it's a brilliant story, well told...

 

The cast is great. Paul Giamatti, who seems to be in everything, is a totally underrated actor and he doesn't disappoint here, playing his character to the T. Bryce Dallas Howard, who is taking over Bruce Willis' role as a Shyamalan regular, does well in her performance as well. It also has a great supporting cast, including Bob Balaban, Jeffrey Wright, Freddie Rodriguez and the little kid from 'My Wife and Kids'! =D The only problem I had was with Shyamalan casting himself as one of the key characters in the film...not that it's a bad thing or he did a terrible job...just kinda seems wrong, not to cast a better actor in such a pivtol role. The movie is a little different from his usual work, but it's better for it. Enjoy a great storyteller at work...

1/2

 

Another video game made into a movie. I've never played this game, but if it's as creepy as the movie is, I think I'd struggle. Actually having an established horror director, in Christophe Gans, I think helps alot. The mood and the setting of the movie is brilliant. Whether it is his style, or how the game is, it give us a very tense and creepy feeling. Almost making us look around the corner with the main character. The story is also pretty well constracted, if at time a little non-sensical. The ending also leaves you rather unsatisfied, but the reason behind the evil is indeed heinous, and it's kinda very satisfiying when they get their just deserves. It has a very video game feel, in that it feels like you are playing the role of the lead character, which I think works in favour of the film.

 

Australia's very own Radha Mitchell plays the lead character of Rose and is perfectly cast. Sean Bean on the other hand who plays Christopher, her husband, doesn't fair too well. It's partly due to the fact that he doesn't have a major role in the movie, nor does he get to actually interact with 'the evil'. The girl who plays the source of evil, though does a great job...what is it with little girls that makes them so creepy/freaky. She's got a mean streak going as good as 'Sadako'/'Samara' in the Ring series. The computer generated images in this film are also very well defined, making it look all the more realistic. All this adding up to make a video game-come-movie, that doesn't suck...trust me, these are a rare breed...

A few reasons I'm bloggin now...

 

Totally demotivated in uni...I'm in a 'funk'...and I can't really put my finger on it...I should be hardcore and stuck into it because it is my final semester...but looking at it now, I may have another one ahead of me...and it's not AIESEC getting in the way either, I've had that all year and it's only now that I'm in this 'funk'. And the funny thing is I don't even care....not even stressed...which worries me...

 

Hazzah for the sun! What a beautiful day it was today, who cares about uni when the weather is so great. It just makes you feel better all around. I love the rain, but I love the sun better. lol. But with the warm weather ALREADY here, I dread what the summer period will bring us...

 

On that note, I'll sign off with another philosophical debate...I apologise to those people that are religous...

 

 

Totally, useless class, but intriguing none the less.

 

cho-LARGE

It's been ages since I saw this but I hadn't had time to post this until now...

 

Come on, I had to see it. lol. It's got Samuel L. Jackson, damnit. =P Okay, okay, it's not an excuse but it's one of those movies, you HAVE to check out because of all the hype. And in that regard it didn't disappoint. It's shit. And that's putting it lightly. But it was never meant to be a great movie and that's the beauty of it. It makes fun of itself, never taking itself to seriously. I mean come on, look at the title. Just imagine that everything that could happen on a plane (without the snakes even), and it happens; sex, panic, dead pilot, blown window, you name it. Hell, they didn't even put effort into the CGI to make the snakes look real. Oh and the whole concept is soooo stupid, you'll be laughing more often then not, but that's what they were after I think.

 

As good as Samuel L. Jackson is, you wonder why he agreed to be in the movie (being the only one close to being an A-list celebrity), but you just hear him utter his magic words and it's like 'there it is. That's why he's in the movie'. I'm of course speaking of his trademark 'motherfucker'. No body says it better than he does. And those the line he says is kinda out of place, it drew applause from the audience I was watching it with. I think an interesting note here is that Australia's own Nathan Phillips is in the movie, but what a shocking decision to go from Wolf Creek...to this? tsk. tsk. Crap, silly, shit, stupid. What ever you want to call it, enjoy it for what it is, and it ain't half bad..

1/2